Molly pauses casting her beautification spells and tenses as her baby starts to cry in the basket. “I’m so sorry, Your Excellency,” she says. “I think she’s hungry.”I shake my head and place my hand on her arm. “It’s okay, Molly. You go and feed your little one. I think this is quite enough for today’s event,” I murmur as I look into the mirror.She nods gratefully and picks up her daughter, my heart warming as I watch the two of them.“She looks cute, but she torments me, Your Excellency. You’ll find out soon enough how exhausting these tiny little things are.”I place a hand on my stomach and smile to myself. My pregnancy is showing now, and there’s not much time left until our own child makes it into this world.“I can’t wait,” I tell Molly. I glance into the mirror, taking in the maroon dress the palace selected for me today. It drapes perfectly over my stomach, neither drawing attention to it nor hiding it. Molly matched the color of my lips perfectly, and I can’t wait to see how Felix might respond when he sees me. A golden crown with rubies sits atop my head, completing the outfit.I glance back at Molly and her little one as I walk out of the room, mouthing thank you. She smiles and attempts to curtsy, but I shake my head. Seeing her with her daughter is one of the greatest joys I’ve been granted. Eldiria changed so much in so very little time, and it astounds me every single day.I pause atop the large staircase, my eyes dropping to the portrait of my mother-in-law. Her spirit might be gone, but her magic lives on in the palace, keeping it enchanted. Felix refuses to speak of her still, but the fact that he had such a large and stunning portrait of her hung in the palace speaks volumes. He’s slowly been renovating the east wing, recovering many of her belongings. Though he might not talk about her, I know he’s processing her role in the curse in his own way.“Arabella.”I turn toward him when I hear his voice, a smile tipping the edges of my lips up when his eyes widen. “Ethereal,” he whispers when I reach him. “You are beyond beautiful, beloved.”I stare at my husband, my heart racing. I still haven’t gotten used to seeing him without the poisonous veins trying to obscure his appearance. I take in his strong jawline and cheekbones, his straight nose and the slight stubble on his skin. He’s beyond handsome, even more so than I imagined.noveldramaI rise to my tiptoes to kiss him, and Felix wraps his arms around me, deepening the kiss. I pull away reluctantly and sigh. “We’re going to be late to Elaine and Raphael’s wedding,” I whisper against his lips, and he sighs.“Very well,” he mutters reluctantly. “Hold on tight.” He closes his eyes.I gasp, and moments later, we’re standing in the palace in Iridea. Without the curse to battle, Felix’s powers have become stronger, as have mine.“Are you certain this is a good idea?” I ask Felix, referring to the way he has pushed Elaine and Raphael together.Felix shrugs. “He wants his country back, doesn’t he? The only way I’ll give him that is if he marries Elaine. We’ll let their countries join together, as the two of them will.”I sigh and shake my head. “He still doesn’t remember her. I’m worried for her, Felix.”He looks at me and smiles. “Don’t be, beloved. Their love was like ours is. While I don’t know why he doesn’t remember her, I know that in time he will. Besides, don’t we owe it to Elaine to help in any way we can?”I nod as we walk into the chapel, everyone around us rising to curtsy. Felix and I take a seat in the front row, alongside Elaine’s family, my heart racing as music begins to play.I turn to watch Elaine walk in wearing a stunning white gown with a train suited for the princess she is. She looks beautiful, but also terrified. Her eyes roam over the room, and her shoulders relax when her gaze settles on me. I nod at her, offering her a reassuring smile, and she nods back as she straightens her shoulders.Elaine looks ahead, and I follow her gaze. Though there is hatred in Raphael’s eyes, there’s also blatant desire. He might not admit it to himself, but even if he doesn’t remember Elaine, a small part of him wants her. I have faith that Elaine will win him over the way she once did. I just wish she didn’t have to.“They’ll be okay,” Felix whispers as he wraps his arm around me, and I nod. They will be. I have faith that they’ll find their way back to each other no matter how slim the odds are, just like Felix and I did.We watch as they exchange vows and then rings. My heart stops for a moment when the priest pronounces them husband and wife before ordering Raphael to kiss Elaine. He hesitates, but then he leans in and captures her lips, cheering erupting around us, though my own cheers might well be the loudest.I see what Elaine once did. Though it might take time for them to find their way back to each other, I know that they will.Felix presses a kiss on top of my head as we watch the newly wedded couple turn toward us. “I love you,” he whispers.I look up at him with a smile on my face. “I love you more.”
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